MEDIA

The Hotel Show Africa 2017 will boost a booming market that already has more than 350 new hotel projects in development

12 July 2016 - dmg events - Middle East, Asia & Africa, a leading international exhibitions company, is set to launch its successful hospitality event brand in Africa. The Hotel Show Africa 2017 will take place from 25 to 27 June at South Africa’s Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg and is the first geo-adapted event from the dmg hospitality portfolio to launch in Africa. The launch coincides with a surge in tourist numbers across the continent that is expected to attract 85 million people a year by 2020.

The new event is adapted for the African market and based on the company’s highly successful The Hotel Show Dubai. It will bring together national and international exhibitors to showcase hospitality products for restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels, right through to food & beverage service outlets.

The Hotel Show Africa 2017 will focus on new trends in the hospitality sector, covering everything from technology to kitchen equipment, cleaning services to interior design, and furnishings to tableware. The event will also introduce the successful Vision Conference, a vibrant knowledge platform set to attract hundreds of senior industry leaders to discuss trends, debate challenges and spotlight opportunities in the African hospitality sector.

“Africa offers huge opportunities for hospitality providers on a continent forecast to enjoy some of the highest economic growth rates in the world,” said Christine Davidson, Vice President, dmg ems Africa.

“The Hotel Show Africa 2017 is a direct recognition of the sector’s growth. South Africa is the right place for this show, offering a gateway to the African market, in a country that is undergoing a strong hospitality boom with millions of dollars’ investment and a government-backed recognition of the economic benefits from tourism.” Davidson added.

The potential of the sector is reflected in the strategy of hotel groups already making significant investments, with 365 hotel projects in the continent’s pipeline.

In June this year South Africa’s Sunday Times described the growth in the hospitality sector as a new ‘scramble for Africa’ as local and international hotel brands drive expansion plans. That includes Protea Hotels that is developing its first hotel in Botswana, the ninth country in Africa in which the brand will have a presence. From its South African base, the organisation has expanded into Zambia, Nigeria, Namibia, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania and Ghana. Elsewhere the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has opened five Radisson Blu properties in Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Ivory Coast and Togo in 2016 alone.

The launch of the geo-cloned hospitality event in Africa is the latest in a series of strategic moves by dmg events as it expands its business into key markets on the continent. Other African ventures include upcoming inaugural editions of The Big 5 East Africa, INDEX North Africa and The Big 5 Construct North Africa.